The most beautiful beaches in Italy “National Geographic”: 3 are on the islands of Favignana, Lampedusa, Ischia

The best beaches in Italy according to National Geographic UK

The famous international magazine National Geographic, translated into 31 languages, both in print and online, compiled a special ranking of Italian beaches in August 2022, selecting twelve of the best. Three of these are located on islands. We will deal with these three first and in more detail, and then we will move on to the complete list, published, for now, in the British version of the magazine. Let’s see what they are below.

The best beach for photographers: Cala Rossa, Favignana

Cala Rossa, on the island of Favignana, in the Egadi archipelago, is not really a classic beach but a flat cliff, set in an incredible coastal landscape, with the sand on the seabed just a few meters from the shore. Sometimes the currents carry the sand to the beach, creating a small beach. The area is not exactly easy to reach by land, and it is in fact very popular with boaters. No bathing services are available. Some attribute the name of the cove to the blood that was shed in the naval battle between the Romans and the Carthaginians that ended the first Punic war. For others it is the color of the limestone of the local rocks, once a quarry for the extraction of tuff. National Geographic defines it as the best in Italy for photographers, probably due to the contrast of colors that arises between the blue of the clear sea and the red of the rocks, and the particular shapes of the rocks.

At this point you may also want to take a look at the descriptions of all the beaches of the Egadi islands.

The best for solitude: Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa

The beach of Conigli (Rabbits) is defined as the best for solitude (it is present in any ranking of the most beautiful beaches, even in the world). This refers to the fact that no more than 550 people can be accommodated on the waterfront at a time. In fact, for access, you must book. To protect the environment and to ensure a respectful experience of use, from 20 June to 15 October it can be accessed in two shifts (morning and afternoon). In short, even in high season, a minimum of distance between the patrons is guaranteed. The amazing beauty of the place and the celebrity given by the presence in the different rankings attracted in fact, in recent years, too many people, who were putting at risk the integrity of this seascape and, at the same time, the pleasantness of their own bathing experience.

You can appreciate some pictures and the description of the Edenic white beach on the page that covers all the beaches of Lampedusa.

The best beach for spa lovers: Maronti, Ischia

The Maronti beach is the longest on the island of Ischia. The side of the coast next to the fishing village of Sant’Angelo is called Fumarole, as volcanic vapors transpire from the sand, even into the sea, not far from the shoreline, where the water becomes hot. But it is on the beach that this phenomenon is used in several ways. Those who suffer from arthrosis and rheumatism use it to make the so-called sandblasting; in addition, the local restaurant cooks octopuses, chickens, eggs and more by immersing the dishes in the boiling sand. Towards the middle of the coast, there are the ancient thermal baths of Cavascura, used at least since Roman times. The springs of thermal water are used in the cells dug into the rock, in the pools and in the caves for saunas. Just behind the beach, there is also the Aphrodite Apollon thermal park, with eight swimming pools at different temperatures and access to the sea.

If interested, you can also take a look at the details on the Maronti and on all the beaches of Ischia.

The complete ranking of 12 of the best beaches in Italy

1. The best for the views: Capo Peloro, Sicily.
2. The best for snorkeling: Baia di Riaci, Calabria.
3. The best for nature: Marina di Alberese, Tuscany.
4. The best for families: Pescoluse, Puglia.
5. The best for photographers: Cala Rossa, Favignana.
6. The best for the old Italian mold: Santa Maria di Castellabate, Campania.
7. The best for solitude: Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa.
8. The best for adventure: Due Sorelle Beach, Marche.
9. The best for architecture: Viareggio, Tuscany.
10. The best for spa lovers: Maronti, Ischia.
11. The best for excursions: Punta Aderci, Abruzzo.
12. The best to celebrate: Riccione, Emilia-Romagna.